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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 4th, 2023–Mar 5th, 2023
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: North Shore, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, South Coast, Tetrahedron.

Best to give the storm snow a little bit longer to settle.

Make conservative terrain choices as you seek out great riding.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

This past week's storm snow has produced many storm slab, wind slab, and dry loose avalanches. These have reached up to size two. Due to the fact that this snow was of such low density when it fell, the snow pack will take a little bit longer than normal to settle and consolidate.

Check out yesterday's North Shore Snowpack Update for a picture of the unusual snowpack setup leading into last weekend's storm.

Snowpack Summary

Storms this past week brought us 100 to 130 cm. This snow was mostly dry and cold. Warming temperatures have increased the consolidation of the upper snowpack and may promote slab development. If the sun pokes out, it could do the same since it is starting to pack a punch this time of year.

This recent snow sits on a layer of concern made up of a crust with facets. It appears to be gaining strength, but this is a layer to watch out for.

The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled, strong, and consolidated.

Snowpack depths are over 300 cm.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, up to 5 cm accumulation, winds southeast 25 to 40 km/h, freezing level climbing to 1000 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with late day sunny breaks, 2 to 5 cm accumulation, winds southeast 15 to 30 km/h, freezing level to 700 to 1000 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny, trace accumulation, winds southeast 25 km/h, freezing level climbing to 1000 m by end of the day.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds southerly 10 °C gusting to 40, freezing level 500 to 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • Keep your guard up at lower elevations. Storms slabs have been reactive at all elevations.
  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

The large amounts of recent low-density storm snow will need a bit longer to settle. Expect reactive storm slabs. In exposed areas expect to find that the wind has built even deeper deposits of snow that may contain slab properties.

Storm slab reactivity is expected to persist for longer than is typical, particularly in areas where slabs are sitting on a weak layer of facets and/or a crust.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

This past week's snow is covering a crust facet combo layer. If triggered this weak layer could produce a large-scale avalanche.

Here is a great video on this layer's development.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3